LESSON ONE: Analyzing Irony in Nonfiction
LESSON DESCRIPTION
Students study the use of irony in a nonfiction piece of literature and its contribution to the reader’s understanding.
GRADE-LEVEL EXPECTATIONS
R2B, R3B Analyze and evaluate the author’s use of figurative language (emphasize irony) in poetry, prose, or nonfiction
LESSON MATERIALS
Sources of Literature:
o Piece of nonfiction war literature
o Kagan, Ss. (1992). Cooperative Learning. San Juan Capistrano, Ca: Kagan Cooperative Learning.
Supplies
o T-Chart graphic organizer
o Pen and paper
o Prentice Hall selections
o Chalkboard, overhead or butcher paper
o Scoring guide for formative assessment
Handouts provided
Words to know
o figurative language
o graphic organizer
o irony
o nonfiction
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Students read a (cold) piece of nonfiction war literature. In three to four sentences the student will answer the following open constructed response question: Identify one example of irony and analyze how the irony reflects the author’s view of war. Provide details to support your answer. Students must use the rules of capitalization correctly in the writing and the title of the answer. Scoring guide provided.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
1. Using Spencer Kagan’s ROUNDTABLE cooperative learning technique, students share their knowledge of wars in which America participated.
2. Roundtable - Divide students into groups of 3-4 students with a pen and paper for the group to brainstorm a list of these wars. Each group elects a leader to lead the group discussion and report the group’s answer to the teacher. Write a question on the board or overhead, and the students will take turns writing their answer on the sheet of paper in their group. Next, the leader of the group leads a discussion of the proposed answers on the sheet of paper, guiding them to come to a consensus. The teacher asks the leaders to report the answer to the class. When all groups have responded, a class discussion follows and the teacher helps to accurately define and answer the question correctly.
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Questions for Students
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In what time periods or dates did these wars occur? Do you know the reason for each act of war? What kinds of stories or songs can you think of which came out of the wars on your lists? What wars can you think of in which America participated? What do you know about these wars? |
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Idea
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Correctly identify the wars and the dates or time periods during this activity. World War I, World War II, Vietnam War, Korean War, Gulf War and any other war *Write the names of the wars and any other information provided on the chalkboard, overhead, or butcher paper. |
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Questions for Students
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What is a good definition of irony? What are some examples of irony? What three types of irony are used in literature? After reading the selected piece of non-fiction, do you see obvious examples of irony? How do we correctly capitalize the title of the piece of literature? How do the examples of irony reflect the author’s view of war? |
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Strategy
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Provide several examples of irony during the set. Verbal Irony- one thing is said but another is meant. Ex. A man who plans to kill his unsuspecting friend offers the toast “To your health” Situational Irony- what is expected is not what happens. Ex. The friend attends a carnival expecting fun but instead meets his death. Dramatic Irony- the reader knows something that a character does not. Ex. The reader knows the man plans murder, but his friend does not. * Guide the students and help them find examples of irony in the literature. Thoroughly explore the connection between the irony and the reflection of the author’s view of war. |
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Questions for Students |
What is an example of irony in the new piece of literature? How does this example reflect the author’s view of war?
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Idea
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During guided practice, make sure students understand once they get with a partner, they can change their answers if they need to. |